THE IMPORTANCE OF BLUE BEETLE IN THE NEW DCU
DC Studios' creative head JAMES GUNN has officially brought this summer's next DC superhero movie into his all-new cinematic DC Universe, and that's saying a lot of BLUE BEETLE, a production that was meant to be limited in its scope and never to see theatrical distribution, going first instead to HBO Max. First announced in late 2018, the movie began and completed filming in 2022. Featuring 22-year old actor and Cobra Kai alum Xolo Maridueña as JAIME REYES, Blue Beetle was slated to be the 14th film in the late DCEU, placing it in continuity with the stories and characters developed by director Zack Snyder.
That's no longer the case, as Snyder's continuity no longer exists. Becoming a genuine part of the forthcoming all-new DCU gives Blue Beetle and its titular character a true future, and that's significant in more than the obvious ways. Blue Beetle is a legacy character; Jaime Reyes is the third to carry that mantle, and the second to utilize the powers of the alien-tech SCARAB featured in the film. The idea and concept of "LEGACY" is perhaps the most central theme of DC's comics, and it will feature just as heavily as the core of DC Studio's shared universe.
Moreover, Blue Beetle may very well be the first Latino superhero blockbuster. Diversity is important to superhero comics and their movie counterparts, and both Marvel and DC make conscious choices to diversify their cast of characters as well as their media. But while Marvel Studios' ret-conned NAMOR THE SUBMARINER for Black Panther II, giving the undersea hero a Latin-American origin in place of his established comic book history, Jaime Reyes, introduced in DC Comics back in 2005, has always been a Mexican American teen from El Paso, Texas. There's authenticity in the character, and the movie's strength comes from the same.
As DC Studios' new DCU begins to truly take shape, take the time and make the investment in the heroes that will be the foundation of that new Universe. The critically acclaimed and Rotten Tomatoes "Certified Fresh" Blue Beetle drops August 18th, 2023.
Here's a closer look at the two books included in this BLUE BEETLE #1 SERIES SET:
- THE REBIRTH ERA: DC Comics returns to (most) of its former continuity as The New 52! gives way to the REBIRTH era! As preludes to the relaunch and renumbering of all its upcoming ongoing titles, each publication received a One-Shot special with a story to kick-off that character or team's Rebirth. Featuring one of two different covers and published in "waves", BLUE BEETLE launched with the third wave of Rebirth one-shots in late 2016 and saw the return of Keith Giffen to the title, who pens a tale of intriguing mystery revolving around the original Blue Beetle, TED KORD, and Jaime Reyes' hometown of El Paso, Texas. Plus: A new pair of super-villains!!
- MOVIE SPECIAL EDITION: DC's reprints the very first issue of Jaime Reyes' FIRST MONTHLY SERIES as the titular Blue Beetle just in-time for the release of the 2023 summer blockbuster! This issue follows on the heels of his First Appearance in the just-concluded 2006 event, Infinite Crisis, and continues threads from that series with the introduction of Jaime's family members as well a special appearance by GREEN LANTERN GUY GARDNER! This is a key element of the issue's story, and a unifying element between the super-heroes, as Gardner (played by actor Nathan Fillion) has been confirmed as one of the new cinematic DC Universe's first-appearing characters. Expect future ties between Blue Beetle and the Green Lantern Corps going forward in the forthcoming DCU!
Get both Blue Beetle comics at a Fan-Friendly price today!
BLUE BEETLE: REBIRTH #01-A
(ONE-SHOT, OCT 2016)
DC Rebirth
First Appearance: Rack
First Appearance: Ruin
Scott Kolins Regular Art Cover
First Printing
+ and +
BLUE BEETLE SPECIAL EDITION #01-A*
(ONE-SHOT, OCT 2023)
First Titular Appearance: Blue Beetle III (Jaime Reyes)
First Appearance: Milagro Reyes
First Appearance: Bianca Reyes
First Appearance: Ernesto Reyes
Appearance: Green Lantern II (Guy Gardner)
Cully Hamner Regular Art Main Cover
First Printing
* Almost like a Facsimile edition except for its cover, the Special Edition one-shot reprints in its entirety Blue Beetle #1 (Vol. 7, 2006) by Keith Giffen and Cully Hamner.